Italian scholar: Vietnam, Italy witness vibrant all-around relations

The signing of cooperation agreements at the Vietnam-Italy Business Forum 2017 (Photo: VNA)

Rome (VNA) – Vietnam and Italy are enjoying the
most vibrant period in their relations, across politics,
economy, culture exchange, and security cooperation, said an Italian scholar.

Sandra Scagliotti, Director of the Centre for Vietnam Studies in Turin in Italy,
made the statement during a recent interview granted to Rome-based Vietnam News
Agency correspondents.

The scholar, who
is also Vietnam’s honor consul for
the area of Turin, said the Vietnam-Italy Strategic
Partnership, which was established in 2013, opened a new period in the
bilateral relations toward a sustainable one.

According to Scagliotti, Vietnamese authorities have
effectively cooperated with Italy’s ministries and sectors in all fields.

The exchange of visits between the two countries’ senior
officials during the last six years, including those made by Italian Prime
Minister Matteo Renzi and President Sergio Mattarella to Vietnam in 2014 and
2015; by Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang to Italy in 2016, helped further
promote the dialogue and intensive cooperation between the two sides.

She
especially emphasised the increasing defence cooperation between the two
countries, saying that this contributes to ensuring navigation safety and maintaining
peace and stability in the Southeast Asia region.

Besides diplomatic ties, Vietnam and Italy are also witnessing the fruitful
development of culture and science cooperation, she said, stressing the crucial
role played by the Centre for Vietnam Studies in
Turin in providing and popularising information about Vietnam.

Regarding economic ties, Vietnam’s interest in Italian
enterprises has encouraged Italy to share its economic and trade-related
experience, she said.

She highlighted efforts of Vietnamese and Italian agencies, especially the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (ICHAM) under the Italian Union of Chambers of
Commerce-Unioncamere, set up in 1996, in promoting investment and
trade cooperation between the two countries.

While
hailing Vietnam’s economic achievements, Scagliotti
recommended Vietnam to maintain the sustainability of the environment, saying
that the country needs to have a vision towards a balance between humans and
nature, and preserving biodiversity.

Through cooperation and experience sharing, Vietnam and Italy may join hands in
promoting sustainable development, thus bringing interest to both sides and outlining
future orientations for their cooperation, she noted.

Scagliotti also took the occasion to inform her agency’s plan
to organise activities in 2018 to mark the 45th founding anniversary
of Vietnam-Italy diplomatic ties.

The POLO Italia Vietnam centre in Turin, which is being finalised, is hoped to help
strengthen connection between Italian universities and association with Vietnamese
partners, she added.-VNA